ABSTRACT :
This study explores the potential influence of the full moon phase on human physiological and psychological states. Using a stratified random sample of 380 respondents from Delhi-NCR, the research examines perceived changes in energy levels, emotional fluctuations, physical discomfort, sleep disturbances, and overall well-being. Findings indicate that many individuals experience heightened energy and emotions during the full moon, while others report minimal or no effects. These varied responses highlight individual differences and suggest a possible association between lunar phases and mental health. The study contributes to emerging research on celestial influences on human behavior.
Keywords: Full Moon, Mental Health, Emotional Fluctuations, Physiological Changes, Lunar Influence.
INTRODUCTION:
Full moon, one of eight lunar phases, in which the entire round illuminated face of Moon is visible from Earth. The F. M. is typically considered the most striking of the lunar phases because during this phase the most sunlight reflects off the Moon toward Earth. During and around the night of F. M., other celestial objects such as stars and planets are more difficult to observe because of Moon’s glare. It is also difficult to observe surface of Moon itself when it is full, as the light tends to wash out topographic features. Given that one half of the Moon always faces the Sun as it orbits, one half of the Moon is always illuminated and the other half is always dark. As the Moon progresses through its orbit, amount of illuminated lunar surface visible from Earth changes, creating the phases. The Moon appears full when it reaches the halfway point of its orbit that is, when it is directly opposite the Sun, with Earth in between. Due to its position opposite the Sun, the full moon rises at sunset and sets at sunrise; Emily Kendall (2023).
The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth’s perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180°) Seidelmann (1992). The lunar hemisphere facing Earth the near side is completely sunlit and appears as an approximately circular disk. The F. M. occurs roughly once a month.
The impact of lunar phases on mental health, particularly in relation to anxiety and depression, has become an emerging area of research in recent years. Traditionally, various cultures have associated the lunar cycle with human behavior, health and emotions. However, the scientific understanding of this relationship remains largely unexplored, despite growing empirical interest. Studies suggest that lunar phases, through factors such as changes in light exposure and gravitational effects, may influence psychological and physiological processes, potentially contributing to mood disturbances and anxiety disorders.
Depression and anxiety are distinct mental health conditions that often overlap. Depression is generally associated with ongoing sadness, disinterest in regular activities, and difficulty managing daily responsibilities. Conversely, anxiety is characterized by persistent fear, worry, and tension, which may lead to panic attacks or phobic reactions. Despite their frequent co-occurrence, these disorders differ in their symptoms and underlying characteristics.
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest; Salik et al. (2022). The common features of all the depressive disorders are sadness, emptiness, or irritable mood, accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes that significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function. Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. It can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends and community. It can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.
Anxiety is sometimes referred to as the psychologic equivalent of physical pain. It is apparent that the mind has difficulty dealing with strongly conflicting emotions. One mental mechanism that the mind uses to deal with such conflict is repression. A number of mental maneuvers, referred to as defense mechanisms, are utilized in the effort to prevent repressed material from reaching consciousness. These mental mechanisms include such things as reaction formation, projection, rationalization and displacement. These mental mechanisms are discussed at length in standard textbooks of psychiatry; Muskin & Kornfeld (1981).
REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
According to Hicks-Caskey & Potter (1991) in their study, they found a notable and statistically significant increase in the occurrence of misbehaviours specifically on the day of the Full Moon (FM) when compared to all other days throughout the lunar period. This fascinating finding indicates that there could be a connection or association between lunar phases, particularly the Full Moon, and an uptick in misbehaviour.
A study conducted by Owen et al. (1998) found no supporting evidence for the belief that lunar phases influence human behaviour or activity. Their findings showed no statistically significant link between the lunar cycle and the frequency or intensity of violent and aggressive behaviours.
In accordance with the findings presented by Laverty and Kelly (1998) there is no discernible connection between the incidence of traffic accidents resulting in property damage or nonfatal injuries and various lunar cycles, including the total or half synodic and anomalistic lunar cycles, as well as the stages of the waxing and waning synodic cycle.
Additionally, Barr (2000) examined significant changes in mental state of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in relation to lunar phases. The study sought to establish whether the moon’s cycles had any bearing on the fluctuations of mental well-being experienced by schizophrenia patients.
Peters-Engl et al. (2001) examined whether the timing of surgery to specific lunar phases had any impact on survival rates of patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The result shows no significant influence on patient survival based on the particular lunar phase at which the surgery was performed.
These finding shows that lunar cycle not play play a substantial role in affecting the outcomes of breast cancer patients.
Zetting et al. (2003) discovered a noteworthy relationship between the lunar cycle and the volume of requests for appointments at a thyroid outpatient clinic. Their findings revealed statistical significance, with p-values of 0.007 for follow-up appointment requests and 0.001 for new
appointment requests. Specifically, the study identified distinct patterns in appointment requests based on the lunar cycle. Follow-up appointment requests reached their highest point approximately three days following the Full Moon (FM), whereas requests for new appointments were most frequent approximately five days after the Full Moon. These patterns suggest a notable lunar influence on the scheduling of medical appointments at the thyroid clinic, indicating that certain phases of the lunar cycle may prompt individuals to seek medical care or follow-up services. The underlying reason for these lunar-related appointment trends in healthcare settings.
Benbadis et al. (2004) carried out an extensive review of seizure incidents recorded in their epilepsy monitoring unit over a three-year period. Their study examined the total count of seizures, encompassing both epileptic and non-epileptic types. Notably, the results showed no statistically significant connection between lunar phases and overall frequency of seizures.
Rao (2004) offers a thorough and unified exploration of Vedic astrology, skilfully incorporating insights from both classical and modern references to offer a nuanced perspective on this ancient body of knowledge. The book delves into a diverse array of subjects within astrology and human psychology, encompassing discussions on the interpretation and importance of different astrological symbols and houses, the impact of planetary forces on an individual’s character and conduct, and the application of astrology as a means for self-exploration and personal development.
Valandro et al. (2004) results demonstrated notable significance levels, as evidenced by the U-test, in essence, their research uncovered compelling evidence suggesting a strong statistical association between the occurrence of human spontaneous abortion and different phases of the lunar cycle.
Schwendimann et al. (2005) carried out a study to explore the potential relationship between the incidence of patient falls in hospital settings and the various phases of the lunar cycle. The objective was to determine if specific moon phases, had any measurable impact on falls among hospitalized patients. After analyzing the data, the researchers found no correlation between lunar phases and patient fall rates, suggesting that lunar cycle does not influence patient safety within healthcare facilities.
Zimecki (2006) study suggests that lunar cycles may somehow influence or synchronize with the biological processes of menstruation and ovulation in women. Further research would be needed to explore and confirm the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
Ahmed et al. (2008) conducted a study to explore the potential connection between L. P. and stroke symptoms that lacked a medical explanation. Their investigation revealed that while stroke admissions appeared to be evenly distributed across various lunar phases (with a p-value of 0.72). In other words, the occurrence of stroke symptoms without a clear medical cause tended to be higher during Full Moon phases.
According to Schuld et al. (2011) noted that within the medical community, a notable curiosity regarding the potential impact of L.C. on patients. Approximately 40% of healthcare professionals hold the belief that lunar phases might exert influences on human behaviour.
Cajochen et al. (2013) conducted a review of existing literature exploring the possible impacts of lunar cycles on human behaviour and health. Their analysis proposes that variations in light exposure associated with different lunar phases might interfere with circadian rhythms, potentially resulting in alterations in mood and behaviour.
Parmar et al. (2014) conducted research to investigate the hypothesis that the influence of lunar phases on various aspects, including the prediction of hospital admissions, doesn’t occur suddenly or discretely. Instead, it’s suggested that this influence changes gradually as one gets closer to or farther from specific dates linked to particular lunar phases. These studies were designed to examine how lunar phases might affect human physiology and what potential consequences or implications this influence may have.
B.V. Raman (2015) delves into the meaningful roles of individual planets and their positioning within the various houses of the horoscope. He also emphasizes the significance of planetary aspects and conjunctions. The book encompasses additional subjects, including retrograde planets, planetary periods, and the utilization of divisional charts. Throughout the book, the author offers a multitude of case studies and examples to effectively demonstrate the practical application of Vedic astrology principles and techniques.
Joswig et al. (2016), found no significant correlations between moon phases and perioperative complications or outcomes in planned back surgeries.
Banfield et al. (2017) reported findings indicating a possible influence of lunar phases on the incidence of intracranial aneurysm ruptures. However, it is important to acknowledge that the studies they cited were based on relatively small sample sizes, offered minimal detail about the patient populations involved, and lacked comprehensive explanations of the statistical methods employed in the analyses. Francis et al. (2017) explored the possible relationship between the lunar cycle and psychiatric cases, and the frequency of psychiatric admissions to emergency departments (EDs). Their study adds to the ongoing debate about the potential link between lunar cycles and human behavior, highlighting importance of empirical research in investigating such phenomena.MarcoGracia (2019) reported that moon phases did not affect surgical blood loss or the frequency of medical emergencies. In essence, the syudy suggest that lunar phases do not have a substantial influence on these healthcare-related factors. According to Burgess et al. (2021) observed that individuals tend to experience a more positive mood when the moon is closer to the full moon phase and a more negative mood when it’s nearer to the new moon phase. This alignment with the lunar
illuminance cycle, which spans approximately 29.5 days, suggests a cyclical pattern in mood. Over a span of 3.3 years, this individual’s daily mood and sleep patterns seemed to correspond with the lunar cycle. Specifically, they reported shorter sleep duration and a more positive mood during the full moon phase in contrast to the new moon phase when sleep duration was longer, and mood was less positive.Maslov (2022) examining the potential influence of moon phases on individuals with mental disorders and their frequency of emergency and urgent admissions to mental hospitals in the city of Penza and Penza oblast (Russia) during the years 2018 and 2019. The study specifically looked at the
frequency of hospital admissions among individuals with severe mental disorders characterized by pronounced psychotic and affective or behavioural manifestations, during various moon phases. This finding aligns with similar international studies, suggesting that lunar phases may not have a substantial impact on the frequency of emergency and urgent admissions for individuals with severe mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:
- To study potential physiological changes among individuals associated with the full moon phase.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
Area of Research: The area of research includes Delhi- NCR.
Sampling Design: In this study, the researcher employed a stratified random sampling technique to gather data from various respondents. The researcher has taken 380 respondents from the DelhiNCR.
ANALYSIS RELATED TO PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES AMONG INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FULL MOON PHASE
Table 1: Table showing the response related to physiological changes among individuals associated with the full moon phase
Analysis: 1. Increased Energy Levels: A majority of respondents perceive increased energy levels during the full moon, with 72.1% agreeing. However, 13.95% remain neutral, while 13.95% disagree, indicating individual variations in experience. So, many respondents feel an increase in
energy levels during the full moon, while some remain neutral or do not experience any change.
2. Emotional Fluctuations: Emotional fluctuations during the full moon are widely reported, with 85% agreeing. Only a small minority (7.37%) remain neutral, while 7.37% disagree, reflecting mixed perspectives. Hence, emotional fluctuations are commonly reported, with most individuals noticing mood shifts, though a small portion remains unaffected.
3. Physical Discomfort: Nearly half (49.74%) report physical discomfort such as headaches or body aches during the full moon. However, 25.26% remain uncertain, and 25% disagree, showing divided opinions. Some respondents experience physical discomfort like headaches or body aches, while others report no significant effects on their health.
4. Outdoor Activity Engagement: Engagement in outdoor physical activities increases during the full moon for 71.31% of respondents, while 12.37% are neutral and 16.32% disagree, indicating varied behavioral patterns. The full moon encourages outdoor physical activities for many
individuals, though some do not notice any impact on their behavior.
5. Sleep Disturbances: Sleep disturbances are not a major concern, with 51.84% reporting no issues. However, 26.58% struggle with sleep, while 21.58% remain neutral, suggesting possible psychological or environmental factors. So, sleep disturbances during the full moon are not a major
concern for most, but a notable number of individuals report difficulty falling asleep.
6. Overall Well-Being Impact: A significant 62.90% believe the full moon affects their well-being, 18.68% remain uncertain, and 18.42% disagree, highlighting diverse perspectives on lunar influence.
So, majority believe the full moon affects their overall well-being, though opinions vary, with some remaining uncertain or skeptical.
CONCLUSION:
The study reveals that the full moon phase is perceived by many individuals to influence various aspects of their physical and emotional well-being. Respondents commonly report increased energy levels, emotional fluctuations, and greater participation in outdoor activities during this lunar phase. While some individuals also experience physical discomfort and sleep disturbances, others report no noticeable changes, indicating varied personal experiences. Overall, a significant portion of the population feels that the full moon has an impact on their general well-being, though perceptions differ. These findings suggest a potential link between lunar phases and human psychological or physiological responses.
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Published In: Juni Khyat Journal